Category: Food Alternatives

For many people, a cup of excellent coffee is an essential start to every day. While once upon a time instant coffee granules were the norm, in recent years more and more coffee is made at home with freshly ground beans. This results in a much tastier cup, but also poses a question: what to do with all the leftover coffee grounds? We make quite a bit of bulletproof coffee when we need a boost, so we’re always looking for quick ways to dispose of it quickly and environmentally safe.

While of course you could simply throw them into the garbage, that would be a sad waste, as spent coffee grounds can be put to many clever uses around the home. Here are just six of the best ways of using this deceptively valuable waste product.

An Easy Fridge Deodorizer

Even the most spotlessly clean refrigerator can pick up the odors of strong foods stored within it. A simple cup of used grounds at the back of your refrigerator will help soak u p’ any bad odors, leaving your fridge smelling crisp and fresh.

A Useful Garden Compost Addition

Coffee grounds contain high levels of carbon, nitrogen, and other essential plant nutrients that make them ideal for adding to a compost heap. They are quick to break down when mixed well with other more traditional compost ingredients, adding both bulk and texture along with the nutrients. Be aware though that coffee is fairly acidic, so you may need to balance this out with an addition of lime or similar if your garden soil already has a low PH level.

Make your next Netflix marathon even more fun with these tasty, homemade snacks. They’re all quick and easy to make, perfect for throwing together at the last minute. They’re also great for sharing, so you won’t have to worry about your friends going hungry. Give these homemade treats a go -you’ll never want a bag of Doritos or microwave popcorn again!

Toffee Popcorn

This sweet snack is surprisingly easy to make at home and works out a lot cheaper than the kind you can buy. Pop as much com as you like in a pan with a little oil, then set

aside. Be sure to pick a large enough pan to prevent overflowing. Next, melt butter and sugar in a pan until completely smooth. Use brown sugar for the best taste, but any kind will work.

Stir your melted toffee mixture into the popcorn until completely coated, and spread out in one layer on a lined baking tray. Bake at a medium heat for 10-15 minutes, until nice and crunchy. Tip into a large bowl and enjoy!

Nachos

This is a fun snack that you can mix and match to your tastes. Start by putting a layer of nacho chips in a heat proof dish. For a simple snack top with tomato salsa
and grated cheese, then pop under the grill until melted. This is quick, easy and delicious

If you fancy something a bit more exciting, then there are plenty of other toppings you could add. Cook black beans and vegetables with Mexican spices for a filling option that could double as a meal. For a healthy choice, make your own guacamole by mashing avocado together with lime, chilli, coriander, tomato, salt and pepper, and use as a tasty dip.

Roasted Chickpeas

This might not be the first food that comes to mind when you think of TV-watching snacks, but it’s surpri
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Food canning is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, as more people are taking an interest in being more connected to their food. Knowing how to can food is a very
resourceful skill, and it can be a lot of fun too. However, food Safety is an important issue. Getting a tight seal on your jars is essential in making sure that your canned food will be safe to eat when you unseal your jars. Below are a few tips to ensure that you get a good seal every time.

Make Sure Your Contents Reach the Proper Temperature

The vacuum seal that occurs during the canning process happens primarily because of steam. When the contents of jar are heated, the steam inside takes up all of the available room in the jar. But when the jar is removed for the heat source, and begins to cool down, the steam reverts back to water which takes up a lot less space and a vacuum is created. But if your contents do not get hot enough, there may not be enough steam to create a good seal.

Fill Contents to the Line on the Inside of the Jar

On the inside of canning jars, there is a fill line. This line isn’t just a suggestion. Filling your jars to the line creates the right about of head space in the jar for the
vacuum sealing process to be successful. You don’t want to go over the line or under the line. You want to be right at the line. Use a spoon or other utensil to push your contents down inside the jar to remove air bubbles. If you don’t, when your contents settle in the jar they could be too far below the fill line.

Make Sure Your Sealing Surfaces are Clean

As you fill up your jars, you might spill some of the contents on the rim. Even if you don’t see anything on the rims of
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In much of the English-speaking world, Christmas has become synonymous with turkey. However, while many are reluctant to break with tradition, others also tire of having exactly the same meal every year. After all, few would say that roast turkey is a particularly special centre piece to the festivities Fortunately, there are numerous tasty alternatives, some of which are actually more traditional than the ubiquitous turkey roast. Following are a few ideas that are sure to impress your family and friends for the special occasion:

1. Venison Wellington

A classic dinner party special, venison wellington might not be cheap, but it will surely impress your companions for the big Christmas dinner. Unlike beef, venison has a very distinct and gamey flavour. You’ll need to buy a good cut, such as loin fillet, trimmed and off the bone, but it’s not as difficult or time-cosuming to prepare as you might think. As the name suggests, a venison wellington is prepared in much the same way as its beef counterpart, consisting of fillet steak coated in duxelles and puff pastry. You can also enjoy it with most of the traditional Christmas side dishes, such as Brussels sprouts, potatoes, parsnips and carrots.

2. Roast Goose

In keeping with Christmas tradition, goose is one of the most popular alternatives to turkey. Though not nearly as common as it used to be, a roast goose is no more complicated to cook than a turkey. Its distinct flavour makes it a favourite choice for Christmas dinners and, in Germany, it remains the staple for the Christmas Day meal. In many other European cultures, it’s also the traditional meal to have on St. Martin’s Day on November11. Roast goose is best served with a variety
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